VP Pence Meets Families of Church Shooting Victims

Vice President Mike Pence spoke at a vigil Wednesday evening for the victims of the Sutherland Springs church shooting. (Published Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017)

Vice President Mike Pence has been quietly cultivating his predecessors since taking office, a different approach than the one taken by his boss, NBC News reported.

Pence has a phone call with Joe Biden at least one a month and has had numerous conversations with Dick Cheney, including a meeting in the West Wing, people close to the two former vice presidents tell NBC News. The group of No. 2s exchange ideas and advice on foreign and domestic policy, working with Congress and how to navigate the job.

The discussions effectively position Pence as the highest-profile link between the Trump administration and the establishment figures from both parties that President Donald Trump repeatedly rebukes, and could put Pence in a precarious position with his boss, who has been criticized by both Biden and Cheney.

For his part, Trump has had a bitter breakdown in communication with Barack Obama and has no relationship with George W. Bush, according to people familiar with the matter.

Watch: Senators Pay Tribute to Joe Biden With Speeches

Vice President Joe Biden was honored with an emotional bi-partisan tribute on the Senate chamber floor on Dec. 7. 2016. Senators on both sides of the aisle were on the same page as they stepped up to express their admiration and gratitude to the outgoing vice president. An emotional Biden sat in the presiding chair during the moving tribute, which latest for more than two hours as lawmakers celebrated their colleague.